Smith River Days: How fast can your cart go?

Dancers perform at a past Smith River Days. Triplicate File

Children will have a chance to put their creativity to the test at this year’s ninth-annual Smith River Days on Saturday.

Judges will be awarding prizes for those with the snazziest bicycle or tricycle, said event organizer Janice Hill. Judges will also be awarding prizes for those who participate in the annual shopping cart race. Shopping carts can be picked up for decoration on Friday at the Smith River Community Hall, Hill said.

“Our theme is a Day at the Races,” she said. “We’re having a bicycle and tricycle best-decorated (contest) and we’re having shopping cart races and the lawn mower races. We mean it to be a family day because most of the activities are free for the children.”

Sponsored by the Smith River Heritage Association, Smith River Days kicks off with the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast at the community hall, according to the association’s website.

The fire department will also lead a parade down First Street. The decorated bicycles and tricycles will also be in the parade and will be judged on their decorations, Hill said.

Roughly 40 vendors will be selling crafts and food, Hill said. This includes Mexican food from Perlita’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant, hamburgers and hot dogs from VFW Post 966 from Brookings and dough boys and corn on the cob at the community hall.

There will also be a petting zoo and jump houses.

“It’s a big job,” Hill said. “We work on it all year, but we’re doing it for the community.”

Businesses have donated prizes for a raffle, and the Heritage Association is giving away a $100 bill, Hill said, adding that kids also have a chance to win the money.

“No one has to buy a ticket, all they have to do is fill out their name,” she said.

Smith River Days kicks off at 9 a.m. on First Street in Smith River. The parade starts at 11 a.m., the shopping cart races will take place at 3 p.m. and the lawnmower races will be held at 4 p.m.